First site visit in Tehran - Golestan Palace

Wow... Now being a gourmet or a 'gourmande' (food lover in French), I must say, the Persian hospitality and the food here are next to none. We visited a restaurant where mostly rice and kebab in different forms are served. The way rice is cooked at home, it comes out as a 'rice cake' and is mainly served with stew dishes made with lamb, not spicy as Indian food but boy, it is tasteful.

"Haldita, let's go visit The Golestan Palace, in downtown Tehran," Hala suggested.

"Brilliant Sis," I was all for it, "I saw some amazing photos of the palace on the internet.  However, it must look somewhat different to the grand images it once was when used for formal royal receptions and ceremonies in the Pahlavi era."

"It's gone through 400 years of renovations!" Hala added.

We took a taxi 'dar bast' on Vali Asr Street, running from Tajrish, the bazaar in the North of the city right to downtown where the train station is. The word 'dar bast' implies that no other passengers would be picked up along the way and the price is obviously higher, but so little once converted into any foreign currency.

Driving in Tehran is like being in a go-kart race, except they skilfully miss each other by a question of centimetres or inches if you must! Most highways are endless, in some parts, walled by paintings newly done by student artists. We tried to miss the morning rush hour and got there in good time.

On the way, we passed the gates which once used to be the entrance to the city.

On entering the garden of the palace after paying a small fee, the ceramic works on the walls surrounding the grounds were breathtaking. This was the main building facing us.

We walked around the garden, admiring one of the finest of Iranian architecture.
From the time of Agha Mohamed Khan Qajar (1742-1797) who chose Tehran as his capital and the palace as his official residence, to the Pahlavi era (1925-1979), used for formal ceremonies.  And now, as a prominent site to visit.

Such a shame... I have tried but most of my photos are not downloading here! 

*You could find them on my Instagram page 'Haldita'.

The old palaces are adorned by tile works, stucco, mirrors, wood carving and lattice windows.  You will be able to see great photos on the Internet. Simply google 'Golestan Palace' Tehran, it gives a general idea of its appropriate grandeur during the times it was used. Inside the buildings, most of the chandeliers and paintings were missing. Nonetheless, definitely worth a visit.

With all the hoo-ha in the news... There is trouble everywhere.
So much culture and history lie behind this forbidden country. Everyone I have met here has been welcoming, they offer their help despite their busy daily routines and most of them mean it. There is also the word 'ta-arof' which Iranians are experts at. It is a form of customary back-and-forth of polite gestures and cultural pleasantries. It's like saying a prolonged pleaaaaase. 

As women, we cover our hair with a simple scarf, I noticed the Chanel and Hermes ones worn elegantly by ladies uptown and more of a simple scarf in dark tones as we headed to the south of the city and more visibility of the black 'chador' worn to cover ladies head to toe. In most areas, ladies have made it a fashion of their own, wearing fancy coats, well above the knee, and some in rather tight jackets. A very good-looking race indeed. As for men... No change of attire to any other city in the world! Perhaps no shorts. 

So much to do and so little time to write! Not sure this early beauty sleep thing works for me as I just don't follow rules.